Antiphase boundaries in Ni-Mn-Ga single crystal—experiment and model

O O. Heczko (FZU – Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Na Slovance 1999/2, 18200 Prague 8,) F F. Maca (FZU – Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Na Slovance 1999/2, 18200 Prague 8,) V V. Drchal (FZU – Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Na Slovance 1999/2, 18200 Prague 8,) L L. Fekete (FZU – Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Na Slovance 1999/2, 18200 Prague 8,) L L. Straka (FZU – Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Na Slovance 1999/2, 18200 Prague 8,) J J. Zemen (FZU – Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Na Slovance 1999/2, 18200 Prague 8,)

Abstract

Thermally induced antiphase boundaries (APBs) in ferromagnetic, ordered Ni-Mn-Ga single crystal exhibit complex, irregular shapes and closed loops without any lattice plane preferences. The APBs were visualized on polished (100) surface using magnetic force microscopy (MFM) at the same location in parent cubic austenite and monoclinic martensite with uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. Based on ab initio calculation, we suggest that one APB curve with dark and light contrast consists of a pair of APB interfaces with narrow, only one-layer thick, core with structural partial B2' order in contrast to full L21 order of bulk. Calculated magnetic contrast using magnetostatic continuum simulations agrees well with MFM observation.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 128, Issue 1
Published January 05, 2026
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (6)

O

O. Heczko

FZU – Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Na Slovance 1999/2, 18200 Prague 8,

F

F. Maca

FZU – Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Na Slovance 1999/2, 18200 Prague 8,

V

V. Drchal

FZU – Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Na Slovance 1999/2, 18200 Prague 8,

L

L. Fekete

FZU – Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Na Slovance 1999/2, 18200 Prague 8,

L

L. Straka

FZU – Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Na Slovance 1999/2, 18200 Prague 8,

J

J. Zemen

FZU – Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences , Na Slovance 1999/2, 18200 Prague 8,